Cigarette holder and dispenser



June 15, 1965 c. F. PINARD 3,189,216

CIGARETTE HOLDER AND DISPENSER Filed Nov. 4, 1963 IOC INVENTOR. gCLARENCE l-T P/NARD United States Patent 3,189,216 CIGARETTE HOLDER ANDDHEPENSER Clarence F. Pinard, Louise Armstrong, 1549 Sanborn Ave, 52inJose M, Qalif. Filed Nov. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 321,119 4 Claims, (Cl.2Z1-24) The present invention relates in general to cigarette holdersand more particularly to a cigarette holder and dispenser.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel cigaretteholder and dispenser.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedcigarette holder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that hasthe appearance of a stuffed animal, which contains therein cigarettesand which ejects the cigarettes contained therein in seriatim.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that hasthe appearance of a stuffed animal, which contains therein cigarettesand which ejects th cigarettes one at a time by actuating an ear of thedevice.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that hasthe appearance of a stuffed animal, which holds cigarettes therein andwhich ejects the cigarettes from an opening below the tail one at a timeby actuating an ear of the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that hasthe appearance of a stuffed animal, which holds cigarettes therein andwhich ejects the cigarettes from an opening below the tail one at a timeby actuating one ear of the device and is reloaded through the sameopening by moving the other car thereof to a reloading position.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent to one skilled in the art from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cigarette holder and dispenser ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical, longitudinal section view of thecigarette holder and dispenser of the present invention with thecigarette cartridge and ejector mechanism shown in right side elevation.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical, longitudinal section view of thecigarette holder and dispenser of the present invention with thecigarette cartridge and ejector mechanism shown in section taken fromthe right side along a center line. i FIG. 4 is a fragmentary,perspective view of the cigarette cartridge and ejecting mechanismemployed in the cigarette holder and dispenser of the present invention.

The cigarette holder and dispensing device ill of the present inventionhas the configuration and general appearance of a stuffed donkey orburro (FIG. 1). Mounted Within the device is a cigarette cartridge andejecting mechanism (FIGS. 2 and 3) which holds a plurality ofhorizontally disposed, vertically aligned cigarettes A (FIGS. 3 and 4).An operator actuating a right ear lila- ('FIG. 1) of the stuffed animaldevice 10 and moving the same forward causes a cigarette to be ejectedthrough an opening 21 (FIGS. 3 and 4) below a tail liib (FIG. 1) of thestuffed animal device 1%. The right ear Illa upon release by theoperator returns automatically to its initial position. For loading thedevice it with cigarettes A through the aforementioned opening 21, aleft ear Ililc (FIG. 1) is moved rearwardly by the operator. When theloading or reloading is completed, the operator releases the left ear19c and the left ear 10c is returned to its normal position. i

The cigarette cartridge and ejecting mechanism 20 (FIGS. 24) comprises ahousing 22 (FIGS. 2 and 3),

3,189,215 Patented June 15, 1965 which is formed from transverselyspaced, upstanding side walls 22a and 22b of preferably stainless steel.The transverse space between the side walls 22a and22b is suitable toaccommodate the diameter of a conventional and standard regular or kingsize cigarette. interconnecting the side walls 22a and 22b is a verticalrear wall 220 (FIG. 3) of preferably stainless steel. The rear wall 22chas its upper edge spaced from the upper wall 226; to define the opening21 (FIG. 3) for ejecting cigarettes seriatim therethrough. A bottom wall22d (FIGS. 2 and 3) of preferably stainless steel has a channelconfiguration and interconnects the lower surfaces of the side walls 220and 22b and extends to the rear wall 220. A top wall 22c of preferablystainless steel interconnects the side walls 22a and 22b and is spacedabove the upper surface of the rear Wall 22c to also define the opening21. The opening 21 is of suitable size to accommodate a horizontallydisposed cigarette for advancement therethrough.

A forward wall 22 joins the side walls 22a and 22b and also joins thebottom wall 22d.

'llhe housing 2 2 is divided into two sections. One section, a rearsection, is substantially rectangular to accommodate a plurality ofhorizontally disposed, vertically aligned cigarettes A (FIG. 3). regularor king size. 22 projects from the rectangular section at an angle in adirection forwardly and upwardly to give the general appearance of theneck of an animal shaped device. While individual parts for the housing2?. have been described, which may be secured together by welding orsoldering, it is to be understood that the housing 22, may be integrallyformed. 1 i

Disposed within the rectangular section of the housing The cigarettesmay be 22 is a movable platform 25 having an inverted U-shapecross-sectional area with a longitudinally extending horizontallydisposed fiat supporting surface 25.2. It is on the flat supportingsurface 25a. that the lowermost cigarette rests. The movable platform 25is adapted for descending and rising in a vertical plane.

Supporting the movable platform 25 for movement in a vertical plane arediagonally dispose-d legs 25 and 27 that engage the lower surface of theplatform 25. The legs 26 and 2,7 cross one another and are pivotallyconnected at the cross-over area by a pivot pin 28. The legs 26 and 27at the lowermost extremities thereof engage the bottom 22d of thehousing 22. interconnecting the lower extremities of the legs as and 27is a suitable spring 3% that continuously urges the lower extremities ofthe legs 26 and 27 toward one another.

From the foregoing, it is to be observed that the platform 25 is alwaysurged upwardly under the force of the spring 31) acting on the legs 26and 2.7. Initially, the platform 25 is at its lowest position with aplurality of longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed cigarettesA (FliG. 3) supported thereby, As the uppermost cigarette A is ejectedor removed from the housing 22., the platform 25 raises under theurgency of the spring 39 until the succeeding or next adjacent cigaretteengages the upper wall 220 of the housing 22.

in order to insert cigarettes A manually within the housing 22 to besupported by the platform 25, it .is necessary to lower the platform 25to provide a space to receive a cigarette inserted through the opening21. For this purpose, a lever 31 (FIG. 3) having the generalconfiguration of the left ear of the stuffed animal device 10 is mountedfor pivotal movement on the forward section of the housing 22 by a pivotpin or shaft 32 that is supported for rotation by the side walls 2% and22b. The lever 31 is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the wall'22band is fixed to the shaft 32 for imparting rotary movement thereto.

A forward section of the housing Depending from the shaft 32intermediate the walls 22:: and 22b and adjacent the inner surface ofthe wall 21b is an arm 33 (FIG. 3), The arm is fixed to the shaft 32 forrotation therewith and has a flange 32a disposed over the upper edge ofthe side wall 221) for guided movement. One end of a cable (FIG. 3) ispivotally attached to the lower extremity of the arm 33 and the otherend of the cable is attached to one end of a lever arm 35 by beingreceived through an opening therein and has an enlarged portion toprevent slippage through the opening. The other end of the lever arm 35is connected to the legs 26 and 27 at the pivot pin 2.3. A suitabletubular sleeve 4% and a plurality of tubular members 4-8 receive thecable for sliding movement. The tubular members do surround the sleeve4d and are secured to the inner surface of the side wall 22b. it isdesirable that the portion of the cable 34 adjacent the lever arm 35 beperpendicular or upright so that upon imparting movement to the leverarm 35, the end of the lever arm 35 attached thereto is raised in apivotal movement about the lowermost surface of the forward wall 22 as afulcrum and in substantially an upright direction, The lever 31 may bereturned to its initial position manually by an operator. Should it bedesired that the lever 31 return automatically to its initial positionupon release by the operator, a spring, not shown, may have one endthereof attached to the lower extremity of the lever E l below the shaft32 and have the other end thereof anchored to the side wall 22b rearwardof the lever 31, thus continuously urging the lever 31 toward itsinitial or normal position.

in lowering the platform 25 to load or reload cigarettes into thecartridge and ejector mechanism 253 through the opening M, an operatorgrips the upper extremity of the left ear lever 31 and moves the same inthe rearward direction, as shown by an arrow (FIG. 3). This actioncauses the shaft 32 to rotate with the lever 31. Thereupon, thedepending arm 33 rotates with the shaft to impart movement to the cable34. The cable 34, in turn, raises the portion of the lever arm 35attached thereto to lower the opposite end of the lever arm 35. Anopening in the front wall 22f (FIG, 3) of the housing 22 receives thelever arm 35 and the cylindrical wall surrounding this opening definesthe fulcrum for the lever arm 35. The lowering of the rearward portionof the lever arm 35 lowers the pivot pin 23 and the upper extremities ofthe legs 26 and 27 to lower tl e platform 25. When the lever 31 isreturned to its normal position, the platform 25 is raised or urged inthe upward direction under the force of action of the spring 3d actingon the legs 2d and 27. If desired, a stop 46 may be provided to limitthe movement of the lever 31 in its return to its normal position.

To eject the uppermost cigarette A through the opening 21, the cartridgeand ejector mechanism of the present invention includes a lever arm 5@(FIG. 2), which has the general configuration of the right ear of thestuffed animal device to. The lever 54 is mounted for pivotal movementon the forward section of the housing by the shaft 52 and is freelyrotatable relative to the shaft In addition, the lever $3 is disposedadjacent the outer surface of the side walls 22a.

Depending from the lever 59 is an arm 52 that has an opening formedtherein to receive freely the shaft 32 and has a flange disposed overthe upper edge of the wall 22a in guided sliding movement. ivotalmovement of the lever 5d imparts rotary movement to the arm 52 therewithabout the shaft 32.

The lower extremity of the arm 52 is pivotally attached by a cotter pin53 to one end of a rigid arcuate actuating rod 55. At the other endthereof, the actuating rod 55 is pivotally attached by a pin 56 to anangularly disposed lever arm 57. The lower end of the lever arm ispivotally attached by a pin, such as a cotter pin 65', to the bottomwall 22d of the housing 22. At the upper and forward end thereof, thelever arm 57 is pivotally attached by a pin 61 to one end of an arm ea(FIGS. 2 and 4). In turn,

the opposite end of the arm 62 is pivotally connected by a pin as to asliding, reciprocating ejector or block d5. The reciprocating block 65includes a flange 65a that engages the other surface of the side wall221; and is slidable over the upper edge thereof, similar to a rail, inthe opneing 22g between the top wall 220 and the side wall 22a of thehousing 22.

When the arm 62 is actuated through the lever arm 57, a substantiallyrectilinear, reciprocating movement is imparted to the slidable block 65along the upper edge of the side wall 22a parallel with the back of thestuffed animal device it). The block 65 also includes a cigaretteengaging member 65b (FE 4) that slides alon the horizontal extension ofthe side wall 221 when at its forward position and is adapted to engagethe forward end of a cigarette disposed within the opening 2g to ejectthe cigarette through the opening 21. A spring 66 interconnects thelever arm 57 and the rigid actuating rod 55 to continuously urge theblock or ejector 65 toward its forwardmost position. The spring asalternatively could be connected to the arm 62 and the actuating rod 55t accomplish the same result.

For ejecting the uppermost cigarette A (PEG. 3) through the opening 21,the cigarette to be ejected occupies the rearward portion of the space22g (FIGS. 2 and 3). An operator now grips the upper portion of thelever 5% (FIG, 2) and actuates the same to pivot about the shaft 32 inthe direction shown by an arrow 78 (FIG. 2). This action causes therigid actuating rod 55' to move rearwardly through the movement of thearm 52 with the lever 5d. Thereupon, the lever arm 5'? pivots about thepin as against the action of the spring 6 with the free end thereofmoving toward the rearward direction. As a consequence thereof, theblock or ejector e5 slides rectilinearly in the direction of an arrow 71(PEG. 2) to eject the uppermost cigarette A through the opening 21. Whenthe operator releases the lever 5d, the spring 66 returns the ejectormechanism to its normal or initial position. To limit the forwardmovement of the block 65, the forward portion of the side Wall 2211which projects at an angle from the rectangular portion thereof may beemployed as a stop.

To protect the ejector mechanism, a shelf '75 may be secured to the topwall 22c and extend outwardly from the ejector mechanism and then besecured to the lower portion of the side wall 22a adjacent the bottomwall 22d. A stop, not shown, may be formed on the shelf 75 at theforwardmost and uppermost portion thereof to limit the forward motion ofthe block or ejector 65.

A preferably galvanized iron coil spring 76 (FIG. 2) having theconfiguration of a tail is pivotally mounted on the side walls 22a and22b by a U-shaped bracket 77. The proximal end of the spring 7s issoldered into or otherwise caused to adhere to a cylindrical casing,which receives the bracket 77 through openin s therein for pivotalmovement thereabout and has a flange projecting forwardly therefrom. Anangular extension 78 on the spring 75 serves to cover the opening 21when the free end of the coil spring 76 is in its lower position. Aspring 843 has one end thereof connected to the flange of thecylindrical casing of the coil spring 76 at the uppermost extremity ofthe coil spring 76 and has the other end thereof anchored to the sideWall 22b. The portion of the spring 86 anchored to the flange of thecylindrical casing of the coil spring 76 is located at the opposite sideof the fulcrum, which is represented by the U-shaped bracket 77, withrespect to the extension 78 and is constructed to continuously urge thespring '76 to pivot clockwise about the bracket 77. An operator pivotsthe coil spring 76 about the bracket 77 to raise the free end of thecoil spring 76 from its normal position until the coil spring 76 pivotsbeyond a predetermined point. Thereupon, the continued movement of thecoil spring 76 is under the action of the spring 80 and the free end ofthe coil spring 76 is in a raised position. The spring 81) continuouslyurges the coil spring 75 to pivot in a direction to maintain the freeend thereof raised. While the free end of the coil spring 76 is in itsraised position, the extension 78 is removed from covering the opening21.

When it is desired to lower the free end of the coil spring '76 to itsnormal position and have the extension 78 cover the opening 21, anoperator pivots the coil spring 76 counterclockwise about the bracket 77against the urgency of the spring 80 until the extension 78 covers theopening 21.

The above-described cigarette cartridge and ejector mechanism 20 isplaced within a plaster-of-Paris form 85 which has the configuration ofa donkey or burro. The form 85 is divided into two equal parts 85a and85b that join along a vertical, longitudinal plane extending along acenter line of the device 10, As is well known to taxidermist, the form85 may be produced by conventional plaster-of-Paris with gauze and wiretherein to form a durable cast. -It is within the contemplation of thepresent invention that the form 85 may be produced from plastic,

The parts $54; and 355 are caused to adhere to one another by suitableadhesive material such as glue to form a hollow configuration of adonkey or burro for containing the cartridge and ejector mechanism 20.Thereupon, a suitable adhesive or glue is placed all along the exteriorsurface of the form 8-5 and a suitable cloth with bear hair is caused toadhere to the outer surface of the form 85. The bear hair is shaved anddyed to give the appearance of donkeys hide. Portion of the cloth at thedonkeys hoofs and mouth area are exposed and wire solder is secured tothe boots to give the appearance of shoes. Glass is caused to adhere tothe head portion of the form 85 to appear as the donkeys eyes.

In the operation of the stuffed animal device 10, an operator pivots thetail 10b (FIG. 1) to remove the extension 78 from the opening 21.Thercupon, the operator on gages the upper portion of the left car 100to move the same rearwardly. This action causes the platform 25 (FIG. 3)to be lowered. At this time, the operator inserts horizontally disposedcigarettes A into the opening 21 in a forwardly and longitudinaldirection. The cigarettes are loaded into the cartridge and ejectingmechanism until a plurality of horizontally disposed, vertically alignedcigarettes are contained therein. The left ear 100 is now returned toits normal position.

For ejecting cigarettes one at a time through the opening 21, theoperator engages the upper portion of the right car No and moves thesame toward the forward direction. As a consequence thereof, the rigidactuating rod 55 and the lever arm 57 causes the ejector or block 65 totravel rectilinearly to expel the uppermost cigarette A on the platform2'5 through the opening 21. When the operator releases the right ear106:, the spring as (FIG. 2) returns the ejector mechanism and the car100 to their initial and normal positions. As a cigarette is removed,the platform 25 raises under the urgency of the spring (FIG. 3) untilthe succeeding cigarette A engages the upper wall 22c.

It is to be understood that modifications and variations of theembodiment of the invention disclosed herein may be resorted to Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A cigarette container and dispenser comprising a form having theconfiguration of an animal, said form being formed with an openingtherein, a vertically movable platform in said form for carrying aplurality of cigarettes with one of said cigarettes aligned with saidopening, a first movable member projecting from said form, means in saidform responsive to the movement of said first member for eje'cting saidone cigarette through said opening, means in said form supporting saidplatform for vertical movement to urge said platform into position 6whereby a cigarette is aligned with said opening, a second movablemember projecting from said form, and means in said form connected tosaid platform support means and responsive to the movement of saidsecond member to move said platform vertically for loading cigarettesonto said platform through said opening.

2. A cigarette container and dispenser comprising a form having theconfiguration of an animal, a tail projecting from said form, said formbeing formed with an opening below and adjacent to said tail, a firstear projecting from said form, a second car projecting from said form,means supported by said form for mounting said ears for respectivepivotal movements, a vertically movable platform in said form forcarrying a plurality of horizontally disposed vertically alignedcigarettes with one of said cigarettes aligned with said opening, meansresponsive to the pivotal movement of said first car for ejecting saidone cigarette through said opening, means in said form supporting saidplatform for vertical movement to urge said plat-form into positionwhereby a cigarette is aligned with said opening, and means in said formconnected .to said platform support means and responsive to the pivotalmovement of said second car to move said platform vertically for loadingcigarettes onto said platform through said opening.

3. A cigarette container and dispenser mechanism comprising a housingformed with an opening therein, a vertically movable platform in saidhousing for carrying a plurality of horizontally disposed verticallyaligned cigarettes with the uppermost cigarette thereof aligned withsaid opening, an ejector supported by said housing for slidingmovementin a rectilinear path and adapted to engage an end of theuppermost cigarette, a first lever mounted on said housing for pivotalmovement, a second lever mounted on said housing for pivotal movement,means connected to said ejector and responsive to the pivotal movementof said first lever to actuate said ejector for moving the uppermostcigarette through said opening, support means in said housing below saidplatform for engaging said platform to urge said platform to raise acigarette in alignment with said opening and said ejector, and meansconnected to said support means and responsive to the pivotal movementof said second lever for lowering said platform to load cigarettes ontosaid platform through said opening.

"4. A cigarette holder com-prising a housing formed 'With an opening, aplatform disposed within said housing to carry a cigarette in alignmentwit-h said opening, oppositely directed diagonally disposed legsinterengaging said platform and said housing, said legs being pivotallyconnected at the cross-over junction thereof, a spring interengagingsaid legs for urging said platform to be raised, a lever pivotallymounted on said housing, a cable connected at one end thereof to saidlever and. actuated in response to the pivotal movement of said lever,and a lever arm interconnected between s-aid pivotally connectedcross-over junction and the other end of said cable for lowering saidplatform in response to the .actu ation of said cable by the pivotalmovement of said lever.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,247,225 11/ 17Cloova 221-232 1,755,655 4/30 Langenfeld 221-276 1,804,580 5/311White'sides 221-276 2,426,136 8/47 Agamtaite 221-57 2,506,719 5/50 Gregg221-24 FOREIGN PATENTS 496,730 i l/50 Belgium.

RA PHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Examiner.

1. A CIGARETTE CONTAINER AND DISPENSER COMPRISING A FORM HAVING THECONFIGURATION OF AN ANIMAL, SAID FORM BEING FORMED WITH AN OPENINGTHEREIN, A VERTICALLY MOVABLE PLATFORM IN SAID FORM FOR CARRYING APLURALITY OF CIGARETTES WITH ONE OF SAID CIGARETTES ALIGNED WITH SAIDOPENING, A FIRST MOVABLE MEMBER PROJECTING FROM SAID FORM, MEANS IN SAIDFORM RESPONSIVE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST MEMBER FOR EJECTING SAIDONE CIGARETTE THROUGH SAID OPENING, MEANS IN SAID FORM SUPPORTING SAIDPLATFORM FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT TO URGE SAID PLATFORM INTO POSITIONWHEREBY A CIGARETTE IS ALIGNED WITH SAID OPENING, A SECOND MOVABLEMEMBER PROJECTING FROM SAID FORM, AND MEANS IN SAID FORM CONNECTED TOSAID PLATFORM SUPPORT MEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAIDSECOND MEMBER TO MOVE SAID PLATFORM VERTICALLY FOR LOADING CIGARETTESONTO SAID PLATFORM THROUGH SAID OPENING.